1-seed BYU battles, falls to 4-seed Columbia in WBIT title game

WICHITA, Kan. – BYU fell to Columbia 81-64 in the WBIT Championship Wednesday night at Charles Koch Arena, closing out a historic postseason run for the Cougars.

Delaney Gibb led BYU with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Olivia Hamlin added 17. Lara Rohkohl anchored the interior with 13 rebounds as the Cougars battled on the glass and finished with 46 boards and 20 second-chance points.

Despite the final margin, BYU showed resilience throughout, cutting into deficits behind transition offense and second-chance opportunities. The Cougars totaled 44 points in the paint and 20 fast-break points, highlighted by a late fourth-quarter run that trimmed the lead to nine with just under a minute to go.

Columbia, however, used multiple runs in both the first and third quarters to create separation and maintain control down the stretch, securing the win and the WBIT title.

First Quarter

The Lions opened with a triple, but BYU answered early with second-chance buckets from Brinley Cannon and Rohkohl. Gibb tied the game at six before Columbia made a 10-2 run to create separation.

Hamlin added two free throws to make it 19-10 heading into the second.

Second Quarter

Columbia built its lead throughout the second quarter, stretching it to 31-15 and forcing a BYU timeout with 6:05 remaining in the half.

The Cougars found some rhythm out of the break behind a 3-pointer from Kambree Barber, a triple and layup from Hamlin and strong drives from Gibb, but Columbia answered each push and carried a 42-24 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter

The Lions opened the second half with a 7-0 run, pushing their lead to 49-24 before Gibb stopped the momentum with a driving score off the glass. The sophomore added a floater, and Hamlin chipped in at the line to spark a brief BYU response, cutting into the deficit to 20 before the media timeout at 4:44.

Out of the break, BYU found offense from a second-chance bucket from Barber, a three from Hamlin, a Rohkohl score off the window, before a block from Barber that led to a score. Columbia answered at the line and in the paint, closing the quarter on a run to take a 60-37 lead into the fourth. 

Fourth Quarter

BYU found life in the fourth quarter behind Rohkohl, Gibb and Hamlin, sparking a fast break surge that ignited a 13-0 run. Transition buckets from Hamlin, Gibb and Benally cut the deficit to 66-52 and gave the Cougars momentum midway through the quarter.

The Cougars continued to push late with scores from Gibb, Hamlin and Barber, trimming it to 72-63 with 52 seconds remaining. Columbia answered down the stretch at the line and in the paint to secure the 81-64 win.